Rio 2016 Olympics: Mo Farah Wins Gold In Men's 5,000 Metres, Becomes Most Decorated British Track Athlete

Arise, Sir Mo?
Mo Farah celebrated after winning gold in the men's 5,000 meter final
Mo Farah celebrated after winning gold in the men's 5,000 meter final
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mo Farah tonight became the first runner in 40 years to win back-to-back long-distance doubles at the Olympics by defending his gold medal place in the men’s 5,000 meters.

The athlete gave a sensational performance as he took Britain to 27 gold medals.

The moment Farah crossed the finish line
The moment Farah crossed the finish line
ASSOCIATED PRESS

His victory secures second place for Team GB in the Rio 2016 medal table - a comfortable three gold medals ahead of China with one day of the competition left.

He won in just 13 minutes, 3.30 seconds. After three runners were disqualified from the race, Hagos Gebrhiwet took silver while American Bernard Lagat earned the bronze, the Associated Press reported.

Farah pictured neck-and-neck with Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel
Farah pictured neck-and-neck with Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel
David J. Phillip/AP

Farah already won the 10,000 meters at the Rio games to go along with his two gold medals from the same events at London 2012.

The last man to win both distance races in consecutive Olympics was Finnish great Lasse Viren at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games.

Mo! Four! @Olympics! Golds! #Olympics #Rio2016 #bbcrio2016 pic.twitter.com/s9kraBnoBU

— Matthew Lumby (@MatthewLumby) August 21, 2016

Olympic medalist Brendan Foster called for Farah to be knighted for his services to athletics.

He told the BBC: “Mo Farah, for services to athletics deserves to be Sir Mo Farah. He is, for me, the greatest British athlete. “Arise, Sir Mo.”

Farah adopted his famous pose after the historic win
Farah adopted his famous pose after the historic win
David J. Phillip/AP

Other pundits, including Gold medal Paralympian Dan Greaves and the Archbishop of York, echoed the call, saying Farah deserved to be decorated for his extraordinary contribution to British sport.

Mo Farah U are simply the Best Athlete Team GB has ever seen!Absolutely FANTABULOUS&Awesome!Congrats 4 the Double Double!BF Rt:now SIR MO👊🏾

— John Sentamu (@JohnSentamu) August 21, 2016

As much as I'd love Mo Farah telling them to stick a knighthood up their arse, I'd love them having to call him Sir Mohammed.

— Adam McKola (@AdamMcKola) August 21, 2016

Arise SIR MO!!!! Incredible scenes!! #MoTime

— Dan Greaves (@DiscusDan) August 21, 2016

What an inspiring interview Sir @Mo_Farah - the new benchmark to who we can call legend. I’m even off to buy Quorn tomorrow too…

— mistajam (@mistajam) August 21, 2016

Speaking after the event, Farah gave an inspiring message to the millions of other athletes he has become a role-model to.

“I wished for just one medal as a junior,” he told the BBC. “It has been a long journey but if you dream of something, have ambitions and are willing to work hard then you can get your dreams.

“I don’t see my kids, I will never catch that time I missed but if I can achieve something for them, that is what drives me.”

Farah toured the stadium after his win, spurred on by his cheering fans
Farah toured the stadium after his win, spurred on by his cheering fans
ASSOCIATED PRESS
At one point he kissed the athletic track floor
At one point he kissed the athletic track floor
ASSOCIATED PRESS
But he was full of energy - jumping for joy with his shoes tied around his neck
But he was full of energy - jumping for joy with his shoes tied around his neck
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gary Lineker also had high praise for the sporting star, writing in a post on Twitter:

Wow! Just Wow! Rio is Mo Town. @Mo_Farah is surely the greatest long-distance runner of all time. The double double.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 21, 2016

It came just minutes before Team GB earned bronze in the women’s 4x400m relay, taking Britain’s medal tally to 66 - one more than the historic high of 65 achieved in London four years ago.

The final medal total, though, will stand at at least 67 - given boxer Jo Joyce is already guaranteed to emerge with a gold or silver in Sunday’s super-heavyweight final.

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